As Victoria continues to address concerns about youth justice, programs like OzChild’s Multisystemic Therapy (MST) are proving to be crucial in providing long-term, sustainable solutions that prevent reoffending and help young people build brighter futures.
The program addresses environmental systems that impact chronic and repeat juvenile offenders – their homes and families, schools and teachers, neighbourhood’s and friends. By focusing on family involvement, improving mental health, reducing substance abuse, fostering positive peer relationships, and increasing engagement in education and employment, MST is effectively diverting young people away from the youth justice system.
In 2023-24 OzChild’s Victorian MST team received 42 new referrals to the program, with 10 carried over from the previous period. Of these participants:
Importantly, 100% of families reported improved family functioning, with all young people remaining in the care of their families following the program, rather than being placed in kinship, foster or residential care.
This evidence-based, intensive family and community-based treatment program is breaking the cycle of disadvantage many juvenile offenders experience, and changing the life trajectory of young people, their families and communities.
To learn more about OzChild’s MST Program, visit https://www.ozchild.org.au/service/multisystemic-therapy-mst/
The Raising Queensland report, and the recent Commission of Inquiry into the child protection system, point to the same conclusion: when families are supported earlier, and systems work together, fewer children reach crisis in the first place.
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